}
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[June 29,] 190
SECTION 3.
C 0.
27696
[22397]
No. 1.
Sir,
Acting Consul Tebbitt to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received June 29.) to 29 JUL 08
Newchwang, June 11, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith, for your information, copy of a notice this day circulated by the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs on the subject of the importation of non-Indian opium into China after the end of this year.
A copy has been sent to the Board of Trade.
I have, &c. (Signed)
R. J. TERBITT.
(No. 7.)
Inclosure in No. 1.
Chinese Customs Notification respecting non-Indian Opium.
NOTICE is hereby given, in accordance with instructions received through the Inspector-General of Customs, that on and after the 1st January, 1909, the importation of all kinds of non-Indian opium will be governed by the following rules:---
1. From the 1st January, 1909. Persian and Turkish opium may only be imported into Chinese Treaty ports under special permits to be obtained from the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon, one permit for every chest, these permits to state that the opium covered by them may be transported to any Treaty port in China, paying, after arrival, duty and li-kin in accordance with Regulations. Persian and Turkish opium imported into any part of China without such permits will be confiscated.
2. Taking 1,125 picals as an average figure of recent annual importations into China of Persian and Turkish opium, beginning from the year 1909, the amount for which special permits will be issued will be decreased every year by one-ninth, i.e., by 125 picals. In 1909 permits will therefore only be issued for 1,000 picals, and this figure will be decreased similarly in each of the seven following years. After 1916 no more permits will be issued, and the importation into China will cease like that of Indian opium.
3. Such special permits will only be issued to merchants known by the Maritime Customs to have been engaged in the Persian and Turkish opium trade, and will be distributed among them in proportion to the average number of picals imported by each of them into China during the years 1906 and 1907.
(Signed) C. C. CLARKE,
Newchwang, June 11, 1908.
Note.-1 pical is equal to 1334 lbs.
Commissioner of Customs.
[1815 -3]